Roberto Garcia, a veteran Mexican referee, will be in charge of the US men's national team’s Copa America Centenario opener against Colombia on Friday night (9:30 pm ET, FS1, Univision, UDN).
Garcia, 41, has extensive experience on both the club and international levels and has officiated four USMNT matches in his career.
He was part of the officiating crew in all three of the US’s group stage games at last summer’s Gold Cup, serving as head referee for the Americans’ 2-1 win against Honduras on July 7, working as the fourth official for their win against Haiti on July 10 and returning to the middle for the US’s draw against Panama on July 13. He was also the center ref for the US’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win against Panama in Seattle in June 2013.
Garcia’s most recent match was on May 21, when he served as lead official for Monterrey’s 4-2 win over Club América in the second leg of the semifinals in the Liga MX Clausura playoffs. He was quite busy in that contest, handing out two red cards, seven yellows and awarding a penalty kick.
Garcia, who worked last summer’s Copa America in Chile and has Copa Libertadores, CONCACAF Champions League and CONCACAF World Cup qualifier experience, has also officiated past Colombia matches. He was in charge of their quarterfinal loss to Argentina at the 2015 Copa America, a match that ended 0-0 and was decided in penalties.
Garcia will be joined by Mexican assistant referees Jose Luis Camargo and Alberto Morin and Brazilian fourth official Wilton Sampaio for Friday’s match.
